A Child's garden
story by Anne Beaty, graphic courtesy of Airdrie Horticultural Society
Digging in the dirt comes naturally to children and the Airdrie Horticultural Society is encouraging this activity in a productive way with the Airdrie Community Children's Garden.
Located in the society's Community Garden near Monklands Soccer Park, the designated children's plot was created last year to accommodate a growing number of youngsters who accompanied their parents to the facility, says horticultural society member and children's garden co-ordinator Kim Sundset. "There were starting to be more and more kids ... tagging along with their parents," Sundset says.
In response, she and her fellow gardeners decided to create an area just for children, incorporating not only planting sections but a designated play space as well. "That's where the kids can just dig in the dirt and 'practise garden,'" Sundset says.
Building on last year's experience and suggestions from parents, the children's garden program is evolving. That first growing season, all the planting was done on one day, as was the harvesting. This year, Sundset says, there will be two planting and two harvesting days, in order to stagger the activities.
Plans are also underway to introduce vertical gardening in the children's plot, with a four-teepee beanpole (for beans, cucumbers and squash) and vertical potato towers in the works. This concept gives youngsters eye-level access to the vegetables. One of the special features of the vertical potato garden is that straw rather than dirt will be used, allowing children to pull it aside and see just how the potatoes are growing and when they are ready for harvest.
In a shed at the facility are dump trucks, shovels, gloves, hats - just about anything a young gardener needs, thanks to donations from community garden members and the public.
There are many positive aspects to introducing children to gardening at an early age. "[They learn] to take care of plants ... they get firsthand experience on where their food comes from and how it grows," Sundset says. "They have to learn patience."
As well, she says, at the community garden children are immersed in the world of volunteering - members taking care of garden maintenance, tending to the Airdrie Food Bank plot, helping each other. "It's a great give and take," she says.
Sundset's own daughter started her horticultural journey at the tender age of 18 months. Now almost four, she is an eager participant in her family's and her community's gardening endeavours.
The horticultural society conducted its first big promotion of the children's community garden at the Airdrie Home and Garden Show in April and given the positive response from the public, Sundset is hoping to see even more people reap the rewards of the initiative. "It's free for everybody ... there's really not an age limit [and] you don't have to be a gardener to have your kids enjoy the outdoors," she says, adding that adults are welcome to come out and help in the food bank plot while their children play.
The Airdrie Community Children's Garden is open from mid-May through the end of October. While the majority of the children who will be digging, planting, harvesting and just generally enjoying the whole gardening experience will be with their parents, the children's garden is also open to playschools and dayhomes. Sundset usually organizes activities for Saturday mornings between 10:30 a.m. and noon, but anyone interested is welcome to contact her for information or to register at kids@airdriehortsociety to make other arrangements.
A key to the Community Garden is also available (a $20 refundable key deposit is required), so it is accessible at any time.
About the Airdrie Horticultural Society
A non-profit organization, the Airdrie Horticultural Society was created in 2001 with the aim of promoting "the knowledge and enjoyment of gardening and [improving] community relationships through horticulture."
The society, which meets once a month from September to June, hosts a wide variety of speakers and horticultural specialists throughout the year, covering such topics as tree care, entomology, xeriscaping, floral arrangements and alpine gardening. Regular garden tours take place during July and August. The horticultural society also sponsors the Community Garden, which is located next to Monklands Soccer Park in Sagewood. The initiative has proven so popular that there is often a waiting list for rental plots.
Annual membership fees are $25 per family; $20 per individual; $15 for seniors; and $2 for drop-in.
For registration and information on the Community Garden, e-mail cg@airdriehortsociety.com; for general enquiries, e-mail info@airdriehortsociety.com or visit www.airdriehortsociety.com
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A Child's garden
Planting the Seeds of Patience and Pride, children get firsthand experience at gardening.
